Man city vs liverpool FA Cup quarterfinal turned massacre as Erling Haaland’s ruthless hat-trick powered Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens to a comprehensive 4-0 demolition at Etihad Stadium, securing record 8th consecutive semifinal spot—Antoine Semenyo’s exquisite chip and Mohamed Salah’s double penalty nightmare crushed Arne Slot’s Liverpool, who wasted 1.8 xG from 18 shots amid Van Dijk’s reckless foul catastrophe.
The way it started, Liverpool actually had some chances early on. They dominated possession at first, or at least it seemed that way, with Wirtz creating stuff and Salah getting close. But then they wasted it all. Salah had an open goal and hesitated, got blocked by Khusanov, and later his penalty was saved low to the left by Trafford. Ekittike missed another penalty over the bar. It felt wasteful, like they had all these opportunities but zero goals from it. Their xG was around 1.8 with 18 shots, but only four on target, and they missed four big chances. That part stands out, how they just couldn’t finish.
Haaland though, he ended his six-game drought in style. First goal from a penalty after Van Dijk fouled O’Reilly in the 38th minute, just clinical. Then a header right before halftime off a perfect cross from Semenyo. And early in the second half, he struck on a counter. Now he’s got 46 Premier League goals this season, and it’s his fourth straight brace against Liverpool at Anfield or Etihad. Kind of makes you see why he’s such a focal point for Guardiola’s team.
Guardiola was suspended, watching from the stands for his second match ban, but it didn’t matter at all. City played flawlessly anyway, with banners saying “Wembley Again” everywhere. They’re chasing a domestic double after beating Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final. The path to semis looks good, facing teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, Leeds, West Ham. It’s their record eighth straight semifinal berth.
Liverpool’s side, Arne Slot is under a lot of pressure now. This makes it four out of five winless games for them. Van Dijk had a rough one, that reckless foul on O’Reilly giving away the penalty, and he was nowhere for Semenyo’s chip in the second quarter, which came off a through ball from Cherki and made it 3-0. The defense just got shredded. About 8,000 Liverpool fans left early, heading back on the M62 before it even ended.
City’s defense was solid too, facing 18 shots but only conceding 1.2 xG, and their eighth clean sheet in ten against Liverpool. Trafford’s saves, especially that penalty, were huge. Possession wise, City had 58 percent, overloading the wings with Doku and Savinho, isolating Haaland. Slot tried a low block but it failed, set pieces were wasted, and lapses got punished.
Player ratings, Haaland was like 9.8 with his hat-trick and perfect penalty. Semenyo 8.9 for goal and assist, Trafford 8.7 for the save, O’Reilly 8.2 for winning the pen. On Liverpool, Salah got a 4.2 after those two squanders, Van Dijk 4.8 for the foul and getting beaten. It seems like their form is erratic, peaks and valleys.
Historically, Haaland has 10 goals in six games against Liverpool. City unbeaten in eight at Etihad against them, first hat-trick since 2015 against West Ham. For Slot, domestic cups are done, FA Cup dream over, title fading. UCL quarterfinal against PSG away on Wednesday is their lifeline now. Rebuild questions are piling up, attack lacks edge, defense fragile with Van Dijk maybe declining.
The atmosphere was electric, chants for Haaland deafening, City fans savoring it. Fans are saying Haaland in god mode, Salah choked, Van Dijk finished. Neutrals see City as cup kings. Semifinals in late April at Wembley, potential rematch with Arsenal or threats from Chelsea. Domestic double feels close for Guardiola.
Slot’s honeymoon is definitely over. That hesitation from Salah, the open goal miss, penalty denial, and rumors of a summer exit. Etihad haunts him. Van Dijk under scrutiny too. Haaland peaking at the right time for the title run and cups. City’s counter precision was lethal, defensive shape perfect even without Guardiola on the touchline.
Liverpool’s profligacy was embarrassing, two penalties missed out of two. Opportunity after opportunity just gone. City advances, legacy match really.
